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Difference between revisions of "Grid Extension vs Off grid, Island / Isolated System"
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= Acknowledgement = | = Acknowledgement = | ||
− | <div><span>Many experts and practitioners have already contributed to this discussion. However, it is important that the discussion continues and that this wiki grows with the experience gathered in the field.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>The core elements of this article are retrieved from discussions with Robert van der Plas and Harald Olk.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>The main source for the criteria and the rules of thumb is an excellent publication by NORAD <span>[http://www.norad.no/en/_attachment/156209/binary/89686?download=true “Best Practice Guide For Planning”, NORPLAN & NORAD, October 2009] and SWECO: <span>[http://www.norad.no/en/_attachment/156302/binary/89783?download=true Assessing technology options for rural electrification. Guidelines for project development. Draft report. Sweco, Oslo, 2009].</span></span> Rules of thumb have been adapted based on experience during the implementation of Energising Development and discussions with the | + | <div><span>Many experts and practitioners have already contributed to this discussion. However, it is important that the discussion continues and that this wiki grows with the experience gathered in the field.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>The core elements of this article are retrieved from discussions with Robert van der Plas and Harald Olk.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>The main source for the criteria and the rules of thumb is an excellent publication by NORAD <span>[http://www.norad.no/en/_attachment/156209/binary/89686?download=true “Best Practice Guide For Planning”, NORPLAN & NORAD, October 2009] and SWECO: <span>[http://www.norad.no/en/_attachment/156302/binary/89783?download=true Assessing technology options for rural electrification. Guidelines for project development. Draft report. Sweco, Oslo, 2009].</span></span> Rules of thumb have been adapted based on experience during the implementation of Energising Development and discussions with the above mentioned experts.</span></div> |
= Important considarations = | = Important considarations = | ||
<div><span>A sustainable rural electrification project depends on a number of critical planning decisions. Important factors in project planning and design are the choice of appropriate technology, ensuring institutional and economic viability, safeguarding of social and environmental issues, and optimizing productive uses of electricity.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>In the following paragraphs several rules of thumbs (ROT) will be developed on the basis of cost criteria and experience made in numerous rural electrification projects. They can be used only as a pre-assessment in a preliminary phase and more thorough analysis is needed.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>Rules of thumb can only give a general orientation. However, there does not exist a single way for rural electrification, each site and situation is different. Rules of thumb do not prevent project developers and decision makers from conducting a regular feasibility study that evaluates at least two options and that takes into account all relevant ecological, economical and social factors in the specific project environment.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>The key for success and sustainability is ownership amongst all involved parties including the stakeholders and the last consumer. It is therefore important to evaluate and assess each individual project thoroughly.</span></div> | <div><span>A sustainable rural electrification project depends on a number of critical planning decisions. Important factors in project planning and design are the choice of appropriate technology, ensuring institutional and economic viability, safeguarding of social and environmental issues, and optimizing productive uses of electricity.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>In the following paragraphs several rules of thumbs (ROT) will be developed on the basis of cost criteria and experience made in numerous rural electrification projects. They can be used only as a pre-assessment in a preliminary phase and more thorough analysis is needed.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>Rules of thumb can only give a general orientation. However, there does not exist a single way for rural electrification, each site and situation is different. Rules of thumb do not prevent project developers and decision makers from conducting a regular feasibility study that evaluates at least two options and that takes into account all relevant ecological, economical and social factors in the specific project environment.</span></div><div> </div><div><span>The key for success and sustainability is ownership amongst all involved parties including the stakeholders and the last consumer. It is therefore important to evaluate and assess each individual project thoroughly.</span></div> | ||
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== Decision tree == | == Decision tree == | ||
<div><span>The following figure illustrates some critical factors and decisions to consider when selecting technology for a rural electrification project. [Source: NORAD 2009]</span></div> | <div><span>The following figure illustrates some critical factors and decisions to consider when selecting technology for a rural electrification project. [Source: NORAD 2009]</span></div> | ||
− | <br>[[Image:Decision tree off vs on grid norad09.jpg]] | + | <br>[[Image:Decision tree off vs on grid norad09.jpg]] |
<div>''<span>Eligibility criteria for selection of the appropriate technological system could be based on either social considerations, cost-effectiveness criteria or a combination of both.</span>''</div><div>'' ''</div><div>''<span>The cost-effectiveness criterion is crucial:</span>''</div> | <div>''<span>Eligibility criteria for selection of the appropriate technological system could be based on either social considerations, cost-effectiveness criteria or a combination of both.</span>''</div><div>'' ''</div><div>''<span>The cost-effectiveness criterion is crucial:</span>''</div> | ||
− | ''<span>Cost-effectiveness criteria typically include distance to the existing grid, population size, affordability and productive potential. A consequence of using cost-effectiveness criteria is that they are likely to promote the connection of communities with less poor people. A cost-effectiveness approach can be justified due to its emphasis on financial sustainability.</span>'' | + | ''<span>Cost-effectiveness criteria typically include distance to the existing grid, population size, affordability and productive potential. A consequence of using cost-effectiveness criteria is that they are likely to promote the connection of communities with less poor people. A cost-effectiveness approach can be justified due to its emphasis on financial sustainability.</span>'' |
''<span>One '''example '''of using cost-effectiveness criteria is how the '''Pakistan Rural Electrification Project '''selected communities. They selected communities with I/K ratios > 24, with I being the population size and K the distance to the grid. </span>'' | ''<span>One '''example '''of using cost-effectiveness criteria is how the '''Pakistan Rural Electrification Project '''selected communities. They selected communities with I/K ratios > 24, with I being the population size and K the distance to the grid. </span>'' | ||
− | <span>Additional examples are:</span> | + | <span>Additional examples are:</span> |
− | <span>'''Rural Electrification in Benin'''....{Julian Frede / Francois Carme, pls add here}</span> | + | <span>'''Rural Electrification in Benin'''....{Julian Frede / Francois Carme, pls add here}</span> |
<span><span>'''Rural Electrification in Madagaskar'''....{Sören David, pls add here}</span></span> | <span><span>'''Rural Electrification in Madagaskar'''....{Sören David, pls add here}</span></span> |
Revision as of 13:33, 19 August 2010
Main decision criteria
- Distance to the national / centralised grid (incl. capacity of grid)
- Demand
- Population density and number of households
- Long-term demand (in kwh and terms of energy services) and peak load (in kw)
- Number and (expected) demand (growth) of productive end uses / industrial users
- Levelized costs of energy production (to be consideres: long term marginal costs) in centralised grid and extension costs.
- Levelized costs of energy production in isolated system
- The selection of socially and environmentally appropriate technologies
- ...
Acknowledgement
Important considarations
Grid vs off-grid vs evolutionary approach
By the time the population has outgrown a particular service delivery level, incomes are likely to have risen and population densities increased, resulting in entirely different economic conditions under which other temporary solutions might now become feasible (such as added PV modules to the battery system at home, or mini grids connecting most village households). A grid-connected city person may find it difficult to imagine, but even the simplest first step up from kerosene lighting, a battery-based modern CFL or LED lamp, would immediately improve the quality of life for rural households. There are numerous options to improve living conditions without having grid electricity, and all have fairly low investment costs. Indeed, a range of individual alternatives should be promoted to improve the quality of rural life across the board and create wealth, to commensurate with households’ desire and ability to pay for such services. Although these services constitute a major step up from prevailing living conditions, several subsequent steps will still be required to reach comparable conditions in the future as in urban areas.
Development of criteria / rules of thumb
Basic definitions
Grid-connected (on-grid) power supply / provision is defined as electricity supply which is fed by centrally generated electricity, and uses a network of (high,) medium and low voltage distribution grid system that exceeds one village. Grid extension is therefore a network expansion from the national power transmission system to new areas and communities. Whereas decentralized power provision is understood as power generation in the village, such as solar home system or a mini-grid powered by a diesel generator / hydro power plant. Grid-connected (on-grid) electrification comprises the connection of entire villages through network extension (grid extension), so the construction of new transmission lines (transmission lines), as well as network densification measures. The latter are divided into two categories: (1) Grid densification by transformation, if villages which are located in close proximity to an existing transmission line will be connected, change of voltage level. (2) Densification within an existing low-voltage distribution grid, connection of additional households.
Decision tree
Cost-effectiveness criteria typically include distance to the existing grid, population size, affordability and productive potential. A consequence of using cost-effectiveness criteria is that they are likely to promote the connection of communities with less poor people. A cost-effectiveness approach can be justified due to its emphasis on financial sustainability.
One example of using cost-effectiveness criteria is how the Pakistan Rural Electrification Project selected communities. They selected communities with I/K ratios > 24, with I being the population size and K the distance to the grid.
Additional examples are:
Rural Electrification in Benin....{Julian Frede / Francois Carme, pls add here}
Rural Electrification in Madagaskar....{Sören David, pls add here}